Indexing device



Feb. 5, 1935. R. o. BLACKWOOD INDEXING DEVICE Filed July 24, 1933 5 0.B/q /KWWL pvvev T 08 T 9) W W 0 5 W 2 3233 m w 5% M j m Patented Feb. 5,1935 UNITED STATES 1,990,020 7 INDEXING DEVICE Robert Oii'icerBlackwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Y Australia Application July 24, 1933,Serial No. 682,009 In Australia March 30, 1933 3 Claims. (CI. 40-65)This invention has reference to an improved indexing device and has beendevised to provide such a device that will be comparatively cheap tomanufacture and of a neat and compact appearance and readilymanipulatable in order to bring before the user the desired informationfor reference.

' The object of the invention is to provide an indexing device having acabinet or casing with an open front from which selected sheets orleaves may be withdrawn or allowed to be positioned into the view of theuser.

An indexing device in accordance with my present invention may comprisea cabinet or casing with an open front and in which is disposed a nestor plurality of indexed sheets or leaves arranged in spaced and slidablerelationship on a detachable base, the nest of sheets or leavesbeingdisposed in grooves or the like and adapted to be independentlyoperated, the detachable base being for the purpose of obtaining accessto the nest of said sheets during-the assembly of the indexing matterdisposed thereon.

An important feature embodied in my. invention comprises the mounting ofthe indexed sheets or leaves in recesses, grooves or corrugationspositioned in the upper and lower portion of the cabinet, each lowerrecess or groove being provided with a stop with which is adapted toengage a protruding pin or the like on the inner and lower end of eachsheet to prevent said sheet becoming detached from its respectivegrooves during the normal operation of withdrawing the sheets forviewing the indexing matter contained thereon,

Another important feature embodied in my invention is the employment ofa detachable base on which the lower grooves or recesses are disposed,the said base being adapted to be removed from the cabinet bringing withit the complete nest of slides to facilitate the assembling of theapparatus and the carrying out of any repairs or adjustments; 1

Another important feature embodied in my invention is the employment ofmeans for. withdrawing the detachable base from the cabinet said meanspreferably comprising a handle or the like mounted to the detachablebase and having downwardly projecting L-shaped lugs, the horizontalportions of which engage with the underside of the base of the cabinetwhen the detachable base is normally positioned within said cabinet sothat, on lifting the device, portion of the strain is taken by the fixedbase of the cabinet.

Now in order that my invention may be more readily understood referencewill be made to the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the indexing device constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the indexing device.

1 Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the indexing device.

Figure 4 is a detail of the supporting means mounted to the detachablebase plate.

According to one form of carrying my invention into practical effect theindexing device pref erably comprises a. cabinet or casing 6 ofsubstantially rectangular formation and of desired height the front face'7 of the cabinet or casing 6 being open to permit one or more of a nestof sheets or leaves 8 carrying information thereon to be withdrawn forreference at the will of the operator. The sheets or leaves 8incorporating the descriptive matter for indexing purposes are slidablymounted within the cabinet 6 upon a detachable base plate 9 disposed inthe floor or bottom 10 of the cabinet 6 the said base plate 9 carryinglongitudinal grooves, recesses or corrugations 11 disposed in parallelrelationship to one another and corresponding to a further set ofgrooves, recesses or corrugations 12 mounted to or disposed in the upperportion of the cabinet 6. These grooves 11 and 12 may be made up in anydesired manner and of any desired material for example, wood, metal,fibre or the like. They may be cut, moulded or pressed, and adapted tohave incorporated therein balls, rollers or the like to minimizefriction and provide smooth operation of the sheets 8 within saidgrooves 11 and The sheets or leaves 8 are preferably composed of sheetmetal with horizontal recessed edges 13 at the top and bottom toaccommodate paper sheets or cards 14 for indexing purposes, the cards 14being detachable in the usual manner and with the sheets or leaves 8constructed in accordance with this invention suitable clips 15 areincorporated to prevent the cards or paper sheets 14 from curvingoutwardly at their centres so as to positively keep same flat againstthe wall of the metal sheet or leaf 8.

If desired in lieu of the metal sheets 8 same may be made of cardboard,fibre or any other suitable material. As previously described each leafor sheet 8 has a card 14 or the. like attached thereto of similar shapeand dimensions, the card 14 being indexed with any particularinformation which the user may require and the sheets 8 are indexed inalphabetical order so that same may be withdrawn from the cabinet whenit is desired to use or acquire the information thereon.

The bottom or floor 10 of the cabinet or casing 6 is extended forwardlyof the front open face as at 16 in order that the detachable base plate9 carrying the sheets or leaves 8 may be moved outwardly a desireddistance or clear of the interior of the cabinet 6 to permit the sheetsor leaves 8 being interchanged, or assembled in the first instance orremoved to facilitate the positioning of the indexed cards 14 thereon.The forward end of the detachable base 9 is provided with a handle 17 tofacilitate the movement of the said base 9 in and out of the cabinet 6,the base plate 9 being of particular utility in that it affords a quickmovement of the nest of sheets 8.

Attached to or integral with the handle 17 are one or more downwardlyprojecting L-shaped lugs 18 so disposed that when the detachable base 9is in normal position within the cabinet 6 the horizontal projectingportions of the lugs 18 engage with the underside of the base 10 of thecabinet 6, suitable recesses 19 being provided on the base 10 to receivethe horizontal portion of the respective lugs 18 so that same do notprotrude below the level of the base 10. These lugs 18 are for thepurpose of transmitting portion of the strain to the base or bottom 10of the cabinet 6 when the device is being transported from one positionto another by the use of the handle 17 mounted on the end of thedetachable base 9 thus preventing said detachable base 9 from beingdamaged during such transporation at the same time affording anefficient and simple means of attachment.

Each respective set of grooves is provided with a suitable stop 20 withwhich is adapted to engage a pin 21 or the like projection disposed onthe inner and lower end of each sheet 8 the said stop 20 being sopositioned as to maintain portion of the sheet 8 within the closedportion of the cabinet 6 in order that the said sheet 8 in its withdrawnposition is maintained vertically and rigid by the upper portion of thecabinet 6 and the detachable base 9, the extended portion of thedetachable base plate 9 providing supporting means for the sheet or leaf8 in its withdrawn position.

Mounted within the cabinet 6 on the rear end thereof is a detachabletransverse buffer 22 disposed approximately midway between the top andbottom of the cabinet 6. This buffer 22 may be composed of a resilientmaterial for example rubber or it may be made of a felt or any othersuitable material so as to provide silent operation when the withdrawnsheets 8 are returned to their normal position, the buffer 22 being of adesired'resiliency so that on the sheets 8 being expeditiously returnedto their normal position they are not caused to be sprung forwardly outof alignment. If desired this buffer or ledge 22 may be formed with aplurality of grooves or recesses (not shown) to accommodate eachselective edge of the sheets or leaves 8.

Across the open face '7 of the cabinet 6 is provided locking meanswhereby the normally positioned sheets 8 may be prevented from beingwithdrawn from the cabinet 6, said locking means preferably comprisinglugs 23 projecting from each side of the cabinet 6 and disposed near thelower end thereof, the lugs 23 being provided with openings 24 toreceive a headed transverse member 25 adapted to have engaged therewitha padlock 26 or the like preventing unauthorized persons from viewingthe matter contained on the indexed sheets.

The walls of the cabinet project above the top thereof to form areceptacle 27 for holding stationery or any other desired articles.

What I claim is my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. An indexing device comprising a casing having an open front face, afreely slidable base plate within said casing, a nest of sheets orleaves slidably arranged in grooves within the casing, a handle mountedto the outer end of the slidable base for withdrawing said base and nestof sheets from the casing and means included with said handle fortransmitting the strain to the casing when employing said handle forlifting purposes.

2. An indexing device comprising a casing having an open front face, theunderside of the top of said casing having longitudinal grooves formedtherein, a freely slidable base plate with in said casing the said baseplate having longitudinal grooves disposed thereon, a plurality ofindependent sheets or leaves slidably and vertically disposed withinsaid grooves, a stop provided adjacent the lower groove of eachrespective set of grooves, a projecting pin disposed adjacent the innerend of each sheet or leaf to permit the sheet being withdrawn from thecabinet a predetermined distance, an extended base portion of the casingbeyond the open front to receive a corresponding extended portion of theslidable base plate and a handle fixed to the outer end of the slidingbase the said handle having downwardly projecting lugs adapted to engagewith the underside of the base of the casing when said sliding base isin normal position within the casing.

3. An indexing device comprising a casing having an open front face, theunderside of the top of said casing having grooves formed therein, afreely slidable base plate within said casing the said base plate havinggrooves therein in alignment with the grooves in the top of the casing,a plurality of independent sheets or leaves slidably disposed withinsaid grooves, stops or projections provided adjacent each groove in theslidable base plate, a projecting pin disposed on the inner end of eachsheet or leaf the said pins being adapted to engage with theirrespective stops when the sheet or leaf is in its withdrawn position, anextended base portion of the casing beyond the open front, acorresponding extended portion of the sliding base, a handle fixed tothe outer end of the extended sliding base for the purpose ofwithdrawing said base from the casing and means included with saidhandle to engage with the base of the casing to transmit the strain tosaid casing when employing the handle for lifting the device.

ROBERT OFFICER BLACKWOOD.

